Idris Elba Breaks UK Speed Record In a Bentley GT [PHOTOS]

To be or not to be James Bond; that is the question everyone has been asking Idris Elba.

While there still is an inkling of hope that the Luther star will become the Black 007, he definitely showed he can manhandle a luxury whip just like the world’s greatest secret agent. Only this was in real life.

Move over Aston Martin. Bentley Motors allowed Elba to test out the all-new Continental GT Speed and the end result came in record-breaking fashion.

The crew land claim to an open beach terrain in Pendine Sands, Wales and Elba hit a top speed of 180.361 mph, breaking Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 90-year-old ‘Flying Mile’ UK land speed record of 174.8 mph, set in 1927.

“I’m absolutely elated to have broken the ‘Flying Mile’ at Pendine Sands,” Elba stated. “It’s an honour to have taken on the challenge, and to successfully follow in the footsteps of the illustrious Sir Malcolm Campbell.”

The Continental GT Speed boasts of iconic 6-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, a new ZF eight-speed close-ratio automatic transmission and state-of-the-art engine management software and zero-to-sixty MPH ability in 4.0 seconds. For those of you who don’t speak car talk, it was designed to break this record.

The record-breaking moment was taped for a four-part Discovery Channel series titled Idris Elba: No Limits, which will air this July. For now, check out images of Idris Elba’s speed demon moment on the next few pages. Click here for all the specifications for the Continental GT Speed.